nking creature, always keeping her eyelids cast down,
and colouring at a word.'

Arthur thought there was a vicious look at his bride's bending head, but
he endured by the help of twisting the tassel of the sofa cushion, and
with another laugh observed, 'that all the lady's shyness had been used
up before he knew her.'

'Then there was Lord George Wilmot, who ran away with a farmer's
daughter. She made quite a sensation; she was quite presentable, and
very pretty and well-mannered--but such a temper! They used to be called
George and the Dragon. Poor man! he had the most subdued air--'

'There was a son of his in the Light Dragoons--' began Arthur, hoping to
lead away the conversation, 'a great heavy fellow.'

'Exactly so; it was the case with all of them. The Yorkshire farmer
showed in all their ways, and poor Lord George was so ashamed of it,
that it was positively painful to see him in company with his daughters.
And yet the mother was thought ladylike.'

Arthur made a sudden observation on John's improved looks.

'Yes. Now that unhappy affair is over, we shall see him begin life
afresh, and form new attachments. It is peculiarly important that he
should be well married. Indeed, we see every reason to hope that--' And
she looked significant and triumphant.

'Much obliged!' thought Arthur. 'Well! there's no use in letting oneself
be a target for her, while she is in this temper. I'll go and see what I
can make of her ladyship. What new scheme have they for John? Rickworth,
eh?'

He was soon at his mother's side, congratulating her on John's recovery,
and her looks were of real satisfaction. 'I am glad you think him
better! He is much stronger, and we hope this may be the period when
there is a change of constitution, and that we may yet see him a healthy
man.'

'Has he been going out, or seeing more people of late?'

'No--still keeping in his rooms all the morning. He did drive one day to
Rickworth with your father, otherwise he has been nowhere, only taking
his solitary ride.'

'I never was more surprised than to see him at Winchester!'

'It was entirely his own proposal. You could not be more surprised than
we were; but it has been of much benefit to him by giving his thoughts a
new channel.'

'He likes her, too,' said Arthur.

'I assure you he speaks most favourably of her.'

'What did he say?' cried Arthur, eagerly.

'He said she was a lady in mind and manners, and of excellent
principles, but